Roof-forming plank clip



Dec. 26, 1967 J. W. SCHNELLER v ROOF-FORMING PLANK CLIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1965 INVENTOR. Joseph W. Schneller ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1967 J. w. SCHNE LLER 3,359,701

ROOF-FORMING PLANK CLIP Filed May 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 24 32 I INVENTOR. v

' Joseph W. Schneller Fig.4 I I ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,359,701 ROQF-FORMING PLANK CLIP Joseph W. Schneller, Williamsville, N.Y., assiguor to National Gypsum Company, Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 17, 1965, Ser. No. 456,130 Claims. (Cl. 52-712) The present invention relates to an improved metal clip for afiixing permanent-type roof-forming planks to a poured-in-place cementitious roof deck which is formed atop the forming planks.

Concrete slab roofs or comparable off-the-ground cement slabs, with internal reinforcement, may be formed on temporary plywood forms, which are then removed and reused, or on planks, which are intended as permanent in the structure. It is with regard to the latter technique that the present invention is directed. With the permanent-type forming planks, means must be provided to assure positive permanent attachment of the forming planks to the bottom face of the concrete slab, to prevent any subsequent sagging of the planks on a possible loss of bond between the planks and the concrete.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel clip for attachment to roof-forming planks having means for positively permanently holding the forming plank to the concrete slab formed thereon.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such novel clip with novel means for guiding the user for proper location for impaling the plank edge.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such novel clip with slab holding means which are disposed in a normal non-interfering position until such time as the concrete slab is to be poured.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such novel clip with a natural bending pivot for resulting in a resultant bent-slab holding means of improved form for retention by a slab.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a novel clip in which may be readily inserted means for stabilizing the clip relative to the plank to permit a final bending of the slab-holding means without damage to the relationship between the plank and the portions of the clip engaging the plank.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a novel clip with means for readily attaching the clip slab-holding means to the metal reinforcing normally embedded in roof slabs.

These and other objects of the invention will be more readily apparent when coisidered in relation to the preferred embodiment as set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the novel roof-forming plank clip of the present invention, affixed to a pair of adjacent planks, in the form of the clip at the time it is first installed.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view, similar to the view of FIG. 1, showing the novel clip in the final bent form immediately prior to the pouring of a roof slab.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing the novel clip in the final bent form when the clip is used in the edge of a plank not abutting another plank.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a completed roof of planks, slab, slab reinforcing rods, and novel clips embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown roof-forming planks which may be, in size, 96 inches by 24 inches by 1 inch, of a density of about 17 to 25 pounds per cubic foot, made of wood excelsior compressed and bonded by a set cementitious material such as a magnesium-oxysulfate cement. Length will commonly vary from 48 inches to 144 inches. Such planks are commonly 3,359,701 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 available, typified by Tectum form-plank manufactured by the National Gypsum Company. The compressed excelsior, low-density plank is particularly advantageous in the structure here shown, wherein the planks 10 provide the form on which a cement slab roof is poured and formed, since such planks provide both permanent, attractive, exposed acoustical ceilings for the room therebelow, and also substantial insulation against heat loss through the finished composite roof to be formed therewith.

In the process of disposing the planks 10 in place in the roof construction, suitable structural framing will first have been built and the necessary temporary shoring will have been put in place intermediate of framing elements, all in accordance with practices well known in the building construction trade, and not shown herein.

Roof planks 10 are disposed in place by first placing one row of planks end to end, starting along one side of a building, with an outer edge of each plank resting upon at least one inch of permanent framing or building wall. Planks will preferably be disposed with their length perpendicular to the extent of the elongate main permanent framing members 12 supporting the planks, and with the end joints 14 of the planks 10 preferably located over framing members 12, or otherwise over some of the temporary shoring, not shown.

Prior to placing a second row of planks 10, a plurality of novel clips 20 are afiixed to the inwardly disposed edges of the first row of planks 10, within 6 inches of each plank end, at spaced positions along the edge of no greater than 24 inches between clips.

Clips 20 consist of a single sheet of metal about 0.36 inch thick, which has been cut and bent to form a central vertical web 22, a pair of horizontal, oppositely directed prongs 24 and 26, each being formed from the metal extending from bends 28 and 30 at the bottom of central vertical web 22, and a horizontal top flange 32 which is formed from the metal extending from the top of central vertical Web 22. Raised ribs 33 are formed in the central web 22 and prongs 24 and 26 to increase the stiifness and rigidity of these parts. Top flange 32 is parallel to prong 24 and spaced from prong 24 a predetermined distance in accordance with the distance from the plank top surface 34 the prong is desired to be inserted into the plank edge 36. Top flange 32 is substan tially longer than prong 24 and accordingly can be placed on the plank top surface 34 prior to inserting the prong 24 into the plank edge 36. Then, accurate controlled insertion of the prong 24 can be accomplished by maintaining the top flange 32 fiat on the top surface 34 while inserting.

With the preferred 1-inch thick plank 10, the spacing between prong 24 and top flange 32 is inch, whereby the prong 24 is inserted into a plank edge inch downward from the top surface and 4 inch upward from the bottom surface.

In constructing a roof in accordance with the invention, a second row of planks 10 are then placed adjacent the first row with the ends 38 of planks of each row staggered relative to the ends 38 of the other row. The planks of the second row are driven against the planks of the first row with a sledge hammer, using a block between the hammer and plank to avoid damaging the plank. Prongs 26 of clips 20 will thus be driven into the edges 36 of the second row planks. With proper framing and shoring, the planks of the second row will be supported Within the identical plane as the planks of the first row, and the prongs will enter the planks of the second row at the identical depth from the plank top surfaces 34 as in the planks of the first row. The planks of the second row are driven tightly against the planks of the first row, resulting in a slight crushing of the plank edges 36 whereat the thin sheet-metal clip central vertical web 22 is located, embedding the thin vertical web 22 in the two abutting plank edges a depth of about & inch.

In the preferred form, the clip central vertical web 22 extends upwardly slightly beyond the plane of top flange 32, in the order of A3 inch, and between the top edge of vertical web 22 and top flange 32 there is a short downwardly inclined connecting portion 40, approximately At-inch in length. A small hole 42, /s-incl1 in diameter, is disposed in the center of vertical Web 22 at a height such that its center is approximately in the plane of top flange 32.

After the clips 20 are completely mounted with prongs 24 and 26 in respective adjacent planks 10, a 6d nail 44, of slightly less than /s-inch diameter, is inserted half way through hole 42, whereby half of nail 44 is pressing tightly against the top surface of one plank and the other half against the top surface of the other plank 10. Insertion of nail 44 also lifts top flange 32 from the top surface 34, whereby it is made more accessible for grasping by a workmans fingers for bending it upwardly for purposes to be described below.

In the construction of a roof with forming planks and poured slab, considerable labor is required after placement of the forming planks, including the placement of a large number of reinforcing bars, cutting necessary openings through planks such as for exhaust fans, vents, skylights, etc.; and building forms around openings. During this work, workmen must walk on the roof planks 10 and, accordingly, occasionally on the clips 20. The insertion of nail 44 provides a very firm, locked-in-place condition of clips whereby this abuse of being stepped on or accidentially kicked does not damage the engagement of clips 20 in the plank edges 35. By clips 20 being originally formed with top flange 32 horizontal rather than extending upwardly as it must be in its final form, as will be discussed further below, this top flange 32 is disposed where it will not be damaged during this work that goes on between the time of placing planks and the time of pouring the roof slab.

Just prior to pouring a roof slab on planks 10, the top flange 32 of each clip 20 is bent upward, preferably between 45 and 135, to an angle such that the top flange is substantially pointing toward the nearest of a plurality of reinforcing bars 46 and a wire 48 is tied from the nearest reinforcing bar 46 to top flange 32 by passing the wire through a hole 50 disposed centrally in the top flange. The bending occurs substantially solely at the top edge of the central vertical web 22. The tendency of the bending action to move the prongs 24 and 26, Weakening the firm engagement of the prongs in the plank edge, is prevented by the very stable mechanical relationship provided by the presence of nail 44 in hole 42 acting in combination with the prongs 24 and 26 to hold this portion of the clip relative to the plank edges.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a second distinct use for which novel clips 20 are adapted, which use would be on the same roof construction jobs as the use above described. At the outer edges of planks 10, disposed around the building edge, the clips 20 may be employed to aflix, mechanically, the outer edge portion of the planks to the roof slab poured thereon. Clips 20 are aflixed to the plank edge 36, disposed outermost of the building, by placing top flange 32 on the plank top surface 34 and maintaining it flush thereon while inserting prong 24 into the plank edge 36. Prong 26 is then bent upwardly flush against central vertical web 22. A wire 49 is tied from the nearest reinforcing bar 46 to the top of central vertical web 22 by passing the wire through hole 42. No nail is inserted in the hole 42 when the clips 20 are employed at the outermost edges, and the top flange 32 is left, unbent, tightly abutting top surface 34, providing with prong 24 complete firm attachment.

Referring to FIG. 4, a completed roof is shown, including a roof slab 52 which was poured as a cementitious slurry atop planks 10 and which sets and hardens, encasing the top flanges 32 of clips 20 and the reinforcing bars 46 and wire ties 48. By this encasement, the clips 20 are fixedly held relative to the slab 52, whereby if the bond between the slab and planks ever fails, the clips will permanently retain the planks in place by a positive mechanical holding engagement.

Having completed a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiment of my invention so that those skilled in the art may practice the same, I contemplate that variations may be made without departing from the essence of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A roof-forming plank clip consisting of a single sheet of metal formed to comprise essentially a central vertical web for disposition between the edges of a pair of adjacent planks, means extending from a lower portion of said central vertical web for impaling each of the two edges of said two adjacent planks, and a top flange and an associated connecting portion extending from a relatively upper portion of said central vertical web, said top flange extending in a direction parallel to one of said impaling means and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the depth at which said plank edge is preferably impaled, said top flange and connecting portion having a combined length greater than said impaling means, whereby said top flange provides controlled means for positioning said clip relative to said plank edges, said central web extending upwardly above the general plane of said top flange, said connecting portion being downwardly inclined and connecting the upper edge of said central web to said top flange.

2. A roof-forming plank clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said central web has formed therein a small nail-receiving hole within the said general plane of said top flange.

3. A roof-forming plank clip as defined in claim 2 wherein said top flange has formed therein a hole for affixing thereto an upwardly-urged tie wire.

4. The method of constructing an oif-the-ground, poured-in-place cement slab comprising mounting a plurality of fibrous forming planks on spaced framing mem bers in tightly abutting relation, whereby a cementitious slurry may be poured thereon to set and form said slab, inserting in the joint between abutting edges of planks at the time the planks are mounted a plurality of spaced sheet metal clips, which said clips are formed to comprise essentially a central vertical web having a nail-receiving hole closely adjacent the top edge thereof means extending from a lower portion of said central vertical web for impaling each of the two edges of said two adjacent planks, and a top flange extending from a portion of said central vertical web above said nail-receiving hole, said top flange extending in a direction parallel to one of said impaling means and having a length greater than said impaling means, inserting said clips by first disposing the outer portion of said clip top flange on the top face of one of said planks with said impaling means directed toward said plank edge, and, second, moving said clip toward said plank, whereby said impaling means enters said plank edge at a depth equal to the spacing between said top flange and said impaling means, disposing the adjacent plank in the same plane as said first plank, with said clip therebetween, and moving said second plank tightly against said first plank, whereby said clip impaling means impales both said Planks, inserting a nail-like fastener about half-way through said nail-receiving hole, bending said top flange upwardly, and pouring a settable cementitious slurry atop said planks, whereby said top flange will be disposed within said settable cement.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said clip top flange includes means for receiving and holding a tie wire, and wherein a tie wire is affixed to said top flange after it is bent upwardly and said tie wire is aflixed to reinforcing means disposed above said clip, providing permanent mechanical attachment of said clip into said resultant settable cement slab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Macleod 527l2 Hamilton 52-363 Williams 52-363 Sohn 52-379 6 2,325,766 8/1943 Gisondi 52-361 2,326,506 8/1943 Tummins 52--363 2,338,870 1/1944 Praeger 52-361 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 990,646 6/1951 France.

345,142 4/1960 Switzerland.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

10 JAMES L. RIDGILL, JR. Examiner. 

1. A ROOF-FORMING PLANK CLIP CONSISTING OF A SINGLE SHEET OF METAL FORMED TO COMPRISE ESSENTIALLY A CENTRAL VERTICAL WEB FOR DISPOSITION BETWEEN THE EDGES OF A PAIR OF ADJACENT PLANKS, MEANS EXTENDING FROM A LOWER PORTION OF SAID CENTRAL VERTICAL WEB FOR IMPALING EACH OF THE TWO EDGES OF SAID TWO ADJACENT PLANKS, AND A TOP FLANGE AND AN ASSOCIATED CONNECTING PORTION EXTENDING FROM A RELATIVELY UPPER PORTION OF SAID CENTRAL VERTICAL WEB, SAID TOP FLANGE EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO ONE OF SAID IMPALING MEANS AND SPACED THEREFROM A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE DEPTH AT WHICH SAID PLANE EDGE IS PREFERABLY IMPALED, SAID TOP FLANGE AND CONNECTING PORTION HAVING A COMBINED LENGTH GREATER THAN SAID IMPALING MEANS, WHEREBY SAID TOP FLANGE PROVIDES CONTROLLED MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID CLIP RELATIVE TO SAID PLANK EDGES, SAID CENTRAL WEB EXTENDING UPWARDLY ABOVE THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID TOP FLANGE, SAID CONNECTING PORTION BEING DOWNWARDLY INCLINED AND CONNECTING THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID CENTRAL WEB TO SAID TOP FLANGE. 